Sammie Szmodics dealt a crushing blow to Leeds’s automatic promotion hopes as Blackburn claimed a late win at Elland Road.
Defeat stopped the home side going top of the table for at least a few hours as Rovers defended for long periods of the game. Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Connor Roberts all tested Aynsley Pears in a dominant first half for Leeds. The home side also had chances after the break but were punished by Szmodics with eight minutes to go.
Leeds were on the front foot from the off as Joel Piroe’s shot was deflected for a corner. Hayden Carter tripped Summerville and his free-kick from a narrow angle was saved by Pears, who also punched away the follow-up shot from Gnonto.
Szmodics forced Illan Meslier into action for the first time from a Blackburn breakaway, with the goalkeeper diving low to his left to keep out the shot five minutes before the break.
Meslier put his side under pressure when his throw went to a Blackburn player but, luckily for him, when the ball was passed to Joe Rankin-Costello he fired wide. Blackburn sensed a chance and Szmodics crossed low from the right but he could not find a teammate with Roberts stretching to stop Tyrhys Dolan getting a touch.
Leeds cranked up the pressure but they were made to pay for their carelessness when Szmodics struck the decisive blow in the 82nd minute. Sam Gallagher nodded on Pears’s kick, Dolan turned and released his teammate and Szmodics finished coolly.
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Source: theguardian.com
